Marin wilderness program is off the chopping block

The Tamalpais Union High School District will preserve a popular wilderness education program after thousands of supporters rallied to its defense.

The Team program, which serves two dozen juniors each year, will run as scheduled next year as officials consider new programming to serve more students, school board president John Wright and district Superintendent Laurie Kimbrel said Monday in a joint letter to parents, community members and staff.

"We look forward to continuing the conversation about improving the experience and outcomes for all students enrolled in our schools," they said in the letter.

The Team program, which includes wilderness trips, community service and internships, was targeted for possible closure last month after administrators raised questions about its cost. With its low teacher-student ratio, they argued, the program costs more than traditional education but serves few minorities, special education students or students from low income families.

More than 3,500 people rallied to the program's defense, arguing it serves many students who feel disengaged in a traditional school setting. School board members expressed support for the program at a meeting last week, but no formal vote was taken.

In their letter on Monday, Wright and Kimbrel said no vote was needed to keep the program alive.

"Board discussion showed support for the continuation of the Team program, given its benefits to the students who enroll," they said. "The board also expressed interest in a collaborative effort between administration and the Team staff so that recruitment efforts can be expanded to encourage a greater variety of students to apply and so that acceptance criteria are explicit, transparent and available to all stakeholders."

Team staff have already been notified that the program will continue, and the district will provide more information later this year about a new advisory committee to explore programming options, Wright and Kimbrel said.